Deltona Election Attracting Big Field

DELTONA — Campaigning for Deltona's first city elections should begin in earnest next week as candidates rush to get the signatures they need to qualify for races.

The catch is that there might not be any winners.

Volusia County officials have decided to go ahead with the elections for mayor and six commission seats despite a lawsuit challenging the validity of the Sept. 5 referendum that created a city.

Despite the uncertainty, more than 60 people have picked up candidates' packets from the Volusia County elections office. Continuing with election plans is all that Deltona residents can do, for the moment.

''The people should stay the course,'' said Gus Dowels, a member of the Deltona Municipal Services District Advisory Board and a candidate for the District 4 commission seat. ''Since the people of this community have spoken, I believe their wishes will be granted.''

A hearing date still hasn't been set for the suit, which was filed Sept. 15 in Circuit Court in DeLand by incorporation opponent Don Sullivan.

Deltona voters approved incorporation by a 7,610-to-6,266 margin, but the county failed to run the required legal advertisements in local newspapers beforehand. Sullivan contends that oversight harmed voter turnout.

Volusia's legislative delegation - which could ask the Legislature to declare Deltona a city during its next session - has ordered a hearing for Oct. 18 to discuss the issue further.

But the Legislature can't take action until next spring - unless Gov. Lawton Chiles calls a special fall session on health-care reform.

By then, Deltona will be preparing for its Nov. 7 primary. The general election will be Dec. 2.

Candidates can pick up petition forms beginning today between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the elections office at 136 N. Florida Ave. in DeLand.

City Commission candidates need 100 signatures from registered voters in their district. Candidates for mayor need 150 signatures from voters in any district. There is no filing charge for candidates wanting to run for these unpaid positions.

Candidates have until Oct. 6 to complete all their paperwork in order to qualify the elections, but the petition forms are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 3.

Before requesting a petition, elections officials are asking those planning to run to pick up a candidate's packet, open a campaign account and appoint a campaign treasurer. As of Friday, 14 candidates had taken those steps.